Animal Well Has One Incredible Feature More Metroidvanias Should Steal

Summary Animal Well features multi-purpose items for puzzles and combat, a unique and innovative approach in the Metroidvania genre.

The game's intricate world is filled with subtle puzzles, diverse paths, and unique gameplay elements, setting it apart from other titles.

If more Metroidvanias adopt Animal Well's design philosophy, gameplay could become more complex and varied, pushing the genre forward.

One of the new Animal Well’s stand-out features should undoubtedly be replicated by other Metroidvanias. Playing through the strange, puzzle-filled world of Animal Well can often be tense, but the intriguing triple-layer structure of the game is perfectly designed to draw people ever deeper into its world. Animal Well has arguably quickly become one of the best Metroidvanias currently available to play, and its unique take on the genre will hopefully inspire future titles in turn.

Animal Well presents an intricately designed world full of puzzles to solve, many of which are subtle in their placement. Of course, as a Metroidvania, some aspects of its gameplay are easy to anticipate; the game features a sprawling world map, where a variety of discoverable items consistently unlock new paths to explore. Although some rooms are best found quicker in Animal Well than others, the player is free to explore in any direction they wish, limited only by the obstacles they encounter. However, other aspects of the game are more unique, and undoubtedly deserving of praise.

Related Animal Well Review: "One of the Most Impressive Metroidvania Titles of Recent Years" Animal Well is a fantastic 2D puzzle platformer, using the Metroidvania structure to create a mysterious world full of secrets to discover.

Each Of Animal Well’s Items Have Many Distinct Uses

Items Can Solve Puzzles Or Have Unique Abilities

Although various items and upgrades are common in Metroidvanias, Animal Well takes the standard formula much further. Every item in the game can be used for multiple purposes, ranging from solving puzzles to combat. For example, the Disc can both hit seemingly-unreachable buttons and be used as a distraction for the dogs that can otherwise pose a deadly threat. With a carefully timed jump, it is even possible to ride the Disc over obstacles. Similarly, the Yoyo can hit switches, distract or attract certain enemies, and even break stalactites, stalagmites, and some types of spikes.

More Metroidvania Games Should Include Multi-Purpose Items

Every Item In Animal Well Has More Than One Use

Every other item boasts similar potential in the game, greatly widening the scope of what is possible in Animal Well with each new addition to the inventory. This stands in stark contrast with items found in other Metroidvanias, which are typically single-purpose. For example, in Metroid games Samus can upgrade her Power Suit to unlock new weapons and mobility options, as well as survive in deadly hot or cold environments. However, unlike Animal Well, these upgrades are highly specialized, and generally do not allow for much innovation beyond their most obvious, basic functions.

Related 10 Metroidvanias To Play While Waiting For Hollow Knight: Silksong There is still no specific release date for Hollow Knight: Silksong, but there are lots of fantastic Metroidvania’s to enjoy in the meantime.

The possibilities of Animal Well’s design philosophy being widely adopted are endless, and the game’s success will undoubtedly inspire other creators in turn. If the concept of multi-purpose items becomes more popular in Metroidvanias, then gameplay in the genre could quickly become much more varied. Both puzzle-solving and combat would have the potential to become much more complex, as would the game environment. Animal Well has proved that Metroidvania upgrades can be much more than just simple items, and this simple but incredible feature could prove to be a huge step forward for the genre as a whole.